Cullen enters plea in sex assault/reptile storage case

An unusual criminal case came to unusual end Monday as a Milwaukee reptile expert pleaded no contest in a deal that will leave him without a conviction for case that made national headlines in 2010, when images of suspected animal abuse seemed to dwarf more serious charges of sexual assault.

As his victim and her mother looked on, Terry Cullen, 63, entered the plea to an amended charge of fourth degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor. If he completes a deferred prosecution agreement, the charge will further amended to two non-criminal citations -- disorderly conduct and battery.

Two related felonies were dismissed, and a host of misdemeanors related to Cullen's storage of hundreds of animals at two properties will also be dropped if he meets conditions of the agreement over the next five months, including: commit no crimes, get a sex offender evaluation, donate $2,500 to area animal protection groups and perform 25 hours of community service.

"It was really important that this case be resolved, more for Jennifer Rushing than Terry Cullen," his attorney, Lew Wasserman said after the hearing. "But she doesn't see that."

Rushing had objected to earlier efforts to resolve the case in such fashion. She appeared in court Monday with her mother and a victim advocate from the District Attorney's office who told reporters Rushing agreed to be identified and photographed.

But the 26-year-old Streamwood, Ill. resident did not comment to Circuit Judge David Borowski about the proposed plea, nor did she speak with reporters after the hearing.

Rushing had claimed Cullen sexually assaulted her at his Milwaukee home during a visit she made to learn about a possible internship with Cullen's reptile rescue organization. During investigation of those claims, authorities discovered hundreds of animals -- mostly exotic reptiles -- living at two of Cullen's Milwaukee properties.

Cullen was charged in May 2010 with three felonies related to an assault of Rushing, and dozens of counts alleging improper storage or mistreatment of animals. The case then wound through 2 1/2 years of intensive pre-trial litigation.

On Monday, Assistant District Attorney Sara Lewis told Circuit Judge David Borowski that while her office still believes Cullen "crossed the line," with Rushing, information developed during the defense's investigation -- about Rushing's mental and emotional status before she met Cullen, and prior unproven claims of sexual assault -- would have made conviction at trial a risky proposition.

After Lewis' extensive recitation of the case's history, and all the concerns prosecutors balanced in proposing the Cullen plea deal, Borowski said he was accept the deferred prosecution agreement as appropriate under the circumstances, while acknowledging such resolutions are extremely rare in sexual assault cases.

Culleln's attorneys said the expect Rushing will sue Cullen for damages.

INTERACTIVE: This interactive provides a detailed look at the current term of the U.S. Supreme Court, including summaries of major cases, profiles of the justices, and legal alignments based on past decisions.